Garment-stretcher.



n, w. CUSTER,

GARMENT STRETCHEB. APPLVICATION FILED MAR.21, 19w. RENEWED AUG 21. I9l8-1' ,279,28 1 Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

? -lnventor:

&4 Att DWIGHT W. CUSTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AS-SIG'NOR TO MATTIE R.CUSTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GARMENT-STRETCHER.

Application filed March 27, 1915, Serial No. 17,319. Renewed August 21,1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DWIGHT W. Cus'rnn, a citizen of the United States,residing at the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGarment-Stretchers, of whichthe following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a partthereof.

My invention relates to garment stretchers and more particularly to atype of knockdown structures adapted for use in shaping trousers.

Heretofore there has been extensively used a variety of differenttrouser stretchers adapted when not in use, to be folded together, ortaken apart and the parts packed together in as small compass as thenumber and size of the various parts of the device will permit.Ordinarily those stretchers which are adapted to be folded together,while capable of being quickly extended for use, are bulky when foldedand thus are not of a form which will admit of their being packed in atraveling bag without a material waste of space within the bag. Thosestructures which are taken apart when not in use, while occupying asufliciently small space to facilitate their being readily packed in atraveling bag are not capable of being quickly extended. In neither ofthe types of stretchers above referred to, is it feasible to fold thestretcher with the trousers in place therein; and have the stretchersremain operative to form the trousers while thus folded with thestretcher.

A garment stretcher made in accordance with my invention is made of aplurality of sections foldable one within another in a manner to permitthe whole device to be brought within the confines of the largestsection, thus not only aflording a small, compact article when foldedbut permitting the stretcher to be instantly extended to its full lengthwhen it is desired to place trousers therein. The sections at theopposite ends of the stretcher are provided with clamp bars, andadjoining sections are provided with cooperating means for preventingthe collapse of the stretcher under the stresses thereon from thegarment or garments being Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1a, 1918.

Serial No. 250,896.

stretched. The clamp bars are provided with securing means soconstructed as to permit the adaptation of the clamp to garmentsdifiering in thickness, or for use with two or more pairs of trousers.Succeeding stretcher sections must be of gradually reduced dimensions sothat each section will fold within the adjoining sections, and eachsection is centered with relation to its adjoining section in a mannerto insure the desired alinement of all sections when the stretcher isextended. The fittings used for thus properly spacing the sections withrelation to each other, may be, and preferably are used for preventingmovement of the section toward the trousers therein. The manner ofpivotally uniting the sections is such as to not only insure permanencyin the structure but to afford rails over which garments not beingstretched may be hung. The stretcher is made almost entirely of wood,such metal fittings as are used being capable of production at smallcost, and of being quickly assembled in the stretcher, thus permittingthe economic production of the stretcher in its entirety.

The invention consists primarily in a garment stretcher embodyingtherein a plurality of sections each having parallel side bars, saidbars of each section being shorter in length than, and positionedwithin, the side bars of the adjoining section,'-means pivotallyconnecting the side bars of adj oining sections, a cross bar carried byeach'end section, a clamp bar adapted to bear toward each end bar, andmeans adapted to close and hold said clamp bar; and in such other novelfeatures of construction and combina tion of parts as are hereinafterset forth and described and more particularly pointed out in theclaims-hereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawi'ngs:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a garment stretcher extended to itsfi'ill'length a pair of trousers being lndicated therein in dottedlines;

Fig. 2 is a view thereof on a larger scale showing the stretcher foldedtogether; and Fig. 3 is a detail view, upon a still larger scale, of oneend of a clamp bar and its cooperating cross bar and a portion of theside tions each carry a cross bar 6 and f.

bar of one of the end sections, with the closing and holding mechanismfor the clamp sembling. At least three sections, however,

should be used in order to make the folded article compact. Each of thesections has parallel side bars cta; bb and c0 the side of each sectionbeing shorter than those of the next adj oining section, so as to permitthe sections to be folded one within the other as shown in Fig. 2. Theends of the side bars a-a overlap and are positioned within, the ends ofthe side bars bb'; and

are pivotally connected thereto; and the other ends of the side bars bboverlap and are positioned within the side bars 00 and are pivotallyconnected thereto.

These side bars are preferably made of wood and the pivotal connectionis secured by means of rungs dd extending completely across each sectionand projecting through openings adjacent the overlapped ends ofadjoining side bars. By this means, I not only properly distance theside bars of each section, but afford a rack within the frame over whicharticles of apparel maybe hung.

The bars wa' and 0 0 of the end sec- Mounted upon said side barsadjacent said cross bars respectively are movable clamp bars gh adaptedto bear toward and hold a garment firmly against the cross bars ef. r

The cross bar 0 is provided with a pivotal hook 2' by means ofwhich thestretcher may be hung in a wardrobe. When the stretcher is not in usethis hook may be folded against the cross bar 6 in the manner shown inFig. 2.

Each clamp bar g-h is pivotally connected to the side bar by means of ametallic fitting which will serve to draw said clamp bar toward thecross bar and lock it in'posi tion with relation thereto. This fittingis so constructed that the clamping 'actionof the bars gh may becontrolled to adapt the clamp for use with different thicknesses, or adifferent number of thicknesses, of material. Each of the said fittingsis similar to the other and a description of but one of them will beentered into.

Each of said clamp bar fittings comprises crank bearings Z end jectingat an angle from the end of the clamping bar upon substantially theplane of the axis of the screw 7' connecting the ear j with said bar.Mounted upon the side bar of the end section is a bearing plate 72having mounted therein a lever Z having looped and trunnions Z mountedin said bearing plate. Pivotally mounted in the bearings Z is a loop madapted to engage in any of the notches in the catch j To properly.position the side bars of each section with the side of the adjoiningsec tion and preserve the alinement thereof.

under all conditions, I provide a distance piece or washer which is notonly capable of yielding sufliciently to permit the free movement of thesections relative to each other but may also be, and preferably is used,as a locking means to prevent the said sections moving toward thetrousers when the device is in use. Each of these distance pieces orwashers consists of a troughed section 0 one edge 0 of which is turnedover to bear upon the face of its side arm, and the other edge 0 ofwhich projects beyond the face of the adjoining side arm and is slottedat 0 as shown to form a keeper for the pivotal plate 7 mounted upon thesection 0. This'pivotal plate 79 is adapted to prevent pivotal movementof the stretcher section in one direction slight movement thereof in theother direction. The distance piecesoare each pivotally mounted upon therungs'd or d so as to be ableto move freely with their side bar.

The flange 0 bearing upon the sidebar insures permanency in the relationof the spacing and the said side bar. It will be observed that the saiddistance pieces, are held in position by means of the said rungs (Z orCZ although, if'desired, the pivotal support for the plate 79 may gagingthe side bar. The spacing of the side bars of one section away fromthose of the adjoining section, permits the graduation in the width ofthe device necessary to allow it to be folded together as shown and atthe same time affords proper clearance for the mechanism carried by thesmaller section. The side bars a a and cc are provided with wear piecesagainst which the plates p are adapted to hear.

The operation of the herein described; de-

vice is substantially as follows:

When the garmentstretcher is not in use, the various plates 19 are swungupon their pivots and brought within the surface of the turned edge 0 ofthe distance pieces 0. The side bars w-a are then. turned upon the whileadmitting be a screw passing through the turned edge 0' and enness willbe that of the section formed by the bars 0c, the cross bar f and theclamp bar h. when so folded, the stretcher may be readily packed in anordinary hand bag, or dress suit case and the portion within the barsa-aand c and the rung cl may be used for packing articles. The hook iwhen the device is not in use is folded upon the cross bar 0 in themanner shown in-Fig. 2.

When it is desired to stretch trousers for the purpose of forming orcreasing them, the device may be instantaneously extended by merelylifting it by means of the cross bar 6 or the hook i thereon, the weightof the various parts serving to cause them to drop to position. The hook'11 is then used to suspend the stretcher. The clamp bars gh are thenreleased by swinging the lever Z toward said bars, thus permitting theloop m to be removed from the catch j The bottom of the trousers is theninserted between the bar 9 and the bar 6 and the bar 9 is closed by handupon said ends so that the loop m can be engaged with the proper notchupon the catch f. The lever Z is then swung away from the clamp bar thusdrawing said bar tightly upon the trousers and clamping them against thecross bar a. The top of the trousers is then dropped between the clampbar 72 and the cross bar the side bars cc' being brought forwardslightly so as to insure the application of the desired stress upon thetrousers. The closing and holding means for the clamp bar h is thenactuated in the manner described in connection with the clamp bar 9,thus clamping the trousers firmly between the bar h and the bar 7. Thevarious sections of the stretcher are then brought into alinement andthe several plates p are swung into the slots 0 in the extended edges 0of the distance pieces 0 the ends thereof engaging the wear surface Qcarried by the adjoining side bar. The positioning of the various platesp will define the minimum stretch to which the trousers are subjected asmovement of any of the sections toward the trousers is prevented whenthese pieces are once set in the manner described. If it is desired toapply greater stretch to the clamps, the uppermost and lowermostsections may be forced backward or away from the trousers slightly, thusbringing the trousers against the rungs (Z d and givinga slight additional stretch thereto. The act of so moving the upper and lowersections brings the clamping bars 9 and it beyond the vertical center ofthe rungs [Z-(Z and will cause the stretcher to remain in this positionas the line of stress will be beyond the vertical centers of the pivotalpoints ofthese sections. While one pair of trousers is being stretchedupon the device, the rungs cZ-d may be used as clothes hangers withoutany interference with the operation of the device in any way. f

If it be desired to merely form a pair of trousers, a mere positioningof the trousers in the stretcher in the manner described, will securethe desired result. If, however, it is desired to give them a welldefined crease this maybe secured by merely moistening the fold of thetrousers while they are under stretch.

A garment stretcher when used in the manner above described isespecially adapted for use in a wardrobe but if it be desired to creasetrousers while they are packed in a traveling bag, dress suit case orother article of luggage, this may be done by mounting the trousers inthe manner above described allowing a trifle slack therein, however.Then instead of using the plates 70, they may be left in theirinoperative position, as shown in Fig. 2 and the device may be folded ina direction away from the trousers, the'smallest section folding withinthe larger, and the larger within the largest section with the trouserstherein. The presence of the rungs cl(l across the space within theframe will apply the requisite tension to the trousers to secure thedesired stretch even while the device is folded. By damping the frontand back folds of the trousers a well defined crease may be securedwhile the folds around the rungs cZ-(Z will not be apparent when thegarment is removed from the stretcher.

Vhen it is desired to remove the trousers the clamping bars g-h arereleased and the trousers removed therefrom in the usual manner.

The construction of the closing and holding means for the clamping barsis such as to impart to them the desired flexibility to accommodate thedevice to trousers, the materials of which differ in thickness, or theuse of the device with two or more pairs of trousers.

It not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details ofconstruction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent thatsuch may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent is 1. A garment stretcher embodying thereina plurality of sections each having parallel side bars, said bars ofsucceeding sections bein shorter in length than, and positioned within,the side bars of the adjoining section, means pivotally eenneeting theside t bars of adjoining sections, distance pieces spacing the bars ofshorter length within and away from the bars upon the adjoining section,means carried by the side bars of one section cooperating with therespective distance pieces and the side bars of the other section,whereby said sections may be locked in the extended position, a crossbar carried by each end section, a clamp bar adapted to bear toward eachend bar and means adapted to close and hold said clamp bar.

2. A garment stretcher embodying therein a plurality of sections, eachhaving parallel side bars, said-bars of succeeding sections beingshorter in length than, and positioned within, the side bars of theadjoiningsection, rungs extending between and through the side bars ofadjoining sections whereby said sections are pivotally connected and arack is presented intermediate the side bars, distance pieces spacingthe bars of shorter length within and away from the bars upon theadjoining section, means carried by the side bars of one sectioncooperating with the respective distance pieces and the side bars of theother section, whereby said sections may be locked in the extendedposition, a cross bar carried by each end section, a clamp bar adaptedto bear toward each end bar and means adapted to close and hold saidclamp bar.

3. A garment stretcher embodying therein a plurality of sections, eachhaving parallel side bars, said bars of succeeding sections beingshorter in length than, and positioned within, the side bars of theadjoining section, distance pieces each comprising a troughed fittinghaving one edge thereof turned to engage the side bar of one section andthe other edge thereof projected beyond the side bar of the adjoiningsection and provided with a slot therein, and a pivotal plate mountedupon said turned edge and adapted to enter said slot and engage saidlast named side bar adjacent the ends and between the side bars, ofadjoining sections, rungs extending between and through said distancepieces and the side bars of adjoining sections whereby said sections arepivotally con nected and a rack is presented intermediate the side bars,a cross bar carried by each end section, a clamp bar adapted to beartoward each end bar and means adapted to closeand hold said clamp bar.

4.. A garment stretcher embodying therein a plurality of sections eachhaving parallel side bars, said bars of succeeding sections be-l ingshorter in length than, and positioned within, the side bars of theadjoining section, means pivotally connecting the side bars of adjoiningsections, a distance piece spacing the bars of shorter length within andaway from the bars upon the adjoining section, means carried by the sidebars of one section cooperating with said distance piece and the sidebar of the other section whereby said section may be locked in theextended position, a cross bar carried by each end section, a clamp baradapted to bear toward each end bar and adjustable means adapted toclose and hold said clamp bar whereby the clamping action of said clampbars may be varied.

5. A garment stretcher embodying therein .a plurality of sections eachhaving parallel side bars, said bars of succeeding sections beingshorter 1n length than, and posltloned 'within, the side bars of theadjoining section, means pivotally connecting the side bars ofad olnlngsections, a cross bar carried by, each end section, a clamp bar adaptedto bear toward each end bar, a bracket pivotally secured to each sidebar adjacent said clamp bar, and having an ear carried thereby andsecured to said clamp bar, and a stepped-catch projecting at an anglefrom the end of saidubar, a hearing plate mounted upon each sidebar, alever mounted in said bearing plate and having cranks thereon, and aloop mountedon said cranks and adapted to engage said stepped catch,whereby said clamp bar may be closed and held with relation to'its crossbar.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses, this 20th day of March, 1915. r

I DWIGHT w. cUsTER.

'Witnesses:

F. T. WENTWQRTI-I, CLARIoE FRANOK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

